Latest Tech News

Stay updated with the latest in technology, AI, cybersecurity, and more

Filtered by: elop Clear Filter

Meta is bringing AI-powered NPCs to the metaverse

Developers building for Meta’s metaverse platform will soon be able to create AI-powered NPCs for Horizon Worlds. The company previewed the move, which is coming “very soon” as part of a developer update that adds new generative AI tools for developers. Once available, developers will be able to use Meta’s Worlds Desktop Editor to create NPCs that can hold “lifelike” conversations with players via voice chat. The company has previously experimented with NPCs for its metaverse, but the upcoming

New Xcode beta now available with GPT-5 and Claude support

Apple has released a new beta of Xcode 26 for developers today with a pair of notable changes. There’s now support for ChatGPT 5, as well as built-in integration with Anthropic’s Claude. When Apple announced Xcode 26 at WWDC, the company touted the ability for developers to tap into ChatGPT and other providers to write code, fix bugs, access documentation, and more. Here’s how Apple described it at the time: Developers can connect large language models directly into their coding experience to

China Unveils Plans to Establish a Fully AI-Powered Economy by 2035

As the western world braces for the "pop" of an enormous AI spending bubble, it seems China is going all-in on the AI hype. Yesterday, the Chinese State Council — the government body responsible for carrying out Chinese Government policy, sort of like the executive branch of the US — released its ten-year plan for AI development. By 2035, it declares, AI will become a "key growth engine for the country's economic development," enabling the People's Republic to "fully enter a new stage of devel

Petition to stop Google from restricting sideloading and FOSS apps

As Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android (previous discussion): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45017028 A developer started a petition to stop Google from limiting app installation on Android devices unless developers provide personal identity documents. Even though Google has not revoked similar controversial policies in the past, we do our best as much as we can. This change particularly threatens the freedom to build, share, and use software w

With developer verification, I’m struggling to think of Android as a proper smartphone platform

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority When I first started using a smartphone, the choice between Android and iOS felt like an easy one. Sure, Apple had an attractive UI, and an early lead on third-party software support, but going the iPhone route meant living in Apple’s walled garden. And while there are absolutely benefits to that kind of approach, it just fundamentally felt wrong to me: I viewed smartphones as the next phase of general-purpose computers, and wasn’t interested in a platform loc

Google to verify all Android devs to protect users from malware

Google is introducing a new defense for Android called ‘Developer Verification’ to block malware installations from sideloaded apps sourced from outside the official Google Play app store. For apps on Google Play, there was already a requirement for publishers to provide a D-U-N-S (Data Universal Numbering System) number, introduced on August 31, 2023. Google says this has had a notable effect in reducing malware on the platform. However, the system didn’t apply to the vast developer ecosystem

Uncomfortable Questions About Android Developer Verification

Uncomfortable Questions About Android Developer Verification ICEBlock “is an innovative, completely anonymous crowdsourced platform that allows users to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity with just two taps on their phone.” The developer of ICEBlock disclosed his identity. In addition to receiving threats of federal prosecution over the app, the developer has faced other backlash, including his wife being fired from a federal government job. This is one recent example d

Google to verify all Android devs to block malware on Google Play

Google is introducing a new defense for Android called ‘Developer Verification’ to block malware installations from sideloaded apps sourced from outside the official Google Play app store. For apps on Google Play, there was already a requirement for publishers to provide a D-U-N-S (Data Universal Numbering System) number, introduced on August 31, 2023. Google says this has had a notable effect in reducing malware on the platform. However, the system didn’t apply to the vast developer ecosystem

Titles matter

Titles matter Recently, I saw a post on Bluesky that did not sit well with me at all. I’m not going to link to it directly or mention the author, because I don’t want to direct any negativity their way. That’s not why I’m writing this. I do, however, want to respond to the core of what was said (and which some were agreeing with). That core sentiment of the post was this: Somebody who generates websites using AI prompting is also a web developer. The qualification is “do you build websites”,

Titles Matter

Titles matter Recently, I saw a post on Bluesky that did not sit well with me at all. I’m not going to link to it directly or mention the author, because I don’t want to direct any negativity their way. That’s not why I’m writing this. I do, however, want to respond to the core of what was said (and which some were agreeing with). That core sentiment of the post was this: Somebody who generates websites using AI prompting is also a web developer. The qualification is “do you build websites”,

Google will verify Android developers distributing apps outside the Play store

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Google is increasing security measures around sideloading apps by removing anonymity for Android developers who distribute outside of the Play Store. Starting in September next year, Google will require developers in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand to verify their identities in order for their apps to be installed on certified Android devices via direct downloads or third-party app stores. This re

Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps

Google will implement a new safety feature that would require developers to verify their identity if they want Android users to be able to sideload their apps. The company said that it made the decision after recent analysis found "over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play." By verifying a developer's identify first, it hopes to better protect users from "bad actors spreading malware and scams." In its announcement, Google said that a

This small change might kill emulation on Android phones next year

Nick Fernandez / Android Authority TL;DR Google will soon block the sideloading of apps from unregistered developers. Many emulator devs want to remain anonymous to avoid legal liability. This may mean popular PS2, Switch, and PS3 emulators will no longer be available. Yesterday Google announced a new program to keep Android devices safe, but it may have huge unintended consequences for emulation on Android. In an effort to keep users safe from scams and malware, Google will require develope

Google to require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

Google is tightening security measures around Android app distribution, the company announced on Monday. Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store. The changes will affect all certified Android devices once live, though the global rollout will be more gradual. The tech giant stresses that this does not mean developers can’t distribute outside of the Play Store through

Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

Google is tightening security measures around Android app distribution, the company announced on Monday. Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store. The changes will affect all certified Android devices once live, though the global rollout will be more gradual. The tech giant stresses that this does not mean developers can’t distribute outside of the Play Store through

Google wants to make sideloading Android apps safer by verifying developers’ identities

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google will soon verify the identities of developers who distribute Android apps outside the Play Store. Developers must submit their information to a new Android Developer Console, increasing their accountability for their apps. Rolling out in phases from September 2026, these new verification requirements are aimed at protecting users from malware by making it harder for malicious developers to remain anonymous. Most Android users acquire apps from

visionOS 26 developer beta 8 now available

Alongside the new macOS 26 developer beta 8, Apple is also rolling out the eighth developer beta of visionOS 26, and the rest of the operating systems it announced during WWDC25. Here’s what’s coming. The build number for today’s visionOS 26 beta 8 release is 23M5332a. If you want to enroll in the developer beta program for Apple Vision Pro, here’s what you’ve got to do: Open the Settings app Choose “General” Choose “Software Update” Select “Beta Updates” Select “visionOS Developer Beta” Wha

Switch emulator Sudachi is no more, and it’s (mostly) not because of Nintendo

Curtis Joe / Android Authority TL;DR Popular Switch emulator Sudachi is no longer under active development. Developer Jarrod Norwell has moved on to Folium, an iOS emulation app. The final version will remain available, but the dev recommends switching to Eden. Nintendo Switch emulation seems to have recovered from last year’s major blows in the wake of Yuzu’s untimely demise, but one emulator from that era remained under active development, at least until now. Sudachi is a Yuzu fork with a

Developers lose focus 1,200 times a day — how MCP could change that

Want smarter insights in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get only what matters to enterprise AI, data, and security leaders. Subscribe Now Software developers spend most of their time not writing code; recent industry research found that actual coding accounts for as little as 16% of developers’ working hours, with the rest consumed by operational and supportive tasks. As engineering teams are pressured to “do more with less” and CEOs are bragging about how much of their codeb

Show HN: Port Kill – A lightweight macOS status bar development port monitor

🚧 Port Kill A lightweight macOS status bar app that monitors and manages development processes running on ports 2000-6000. The app provides real-time process detection and allows you to kill individual processes or all processes at once. Features Real-time Monitoring : Scans ports 2000-6000 every 5 seconds using lsof commands : Scans ports 2000-6000 every 5 seconds using commands Visual Status Bar Icon : Shows process count with color-coded center (green=0, red=1-9, orange=10+) : Shows proc

The Division 2: Survivors will bring 'survival extraction' to the series

On Friday, Ubisoft announced… something. The company describes The Division 2: Survivors as "an updated take on the survival extraction experience." Is it DLC? Is it a new game mode? We have no idea. But Ubisoft said it will "strive for transparency during its development." Unfortunately, that didn't apply to its announcement. Ubisoft said Survivors is in its early stages, which may explain the lack of detail. Other media outlets have reported that it will come in 2026. But the company's franch

Computer science graduates struggle to secure their first jobs

Computer science graduates struggle to secure their first jobs 8 hours ago Share Save Joe Fay Technology Reporter Share Save Eddie Hart Eddie Hart says coding firms seem reluctant to hire recent graduates Eddie Hart studied computer science and cybersecurity at Newcastle University, graduating in 2024. He says he knew getting into the tech workforce would be a challenge, but "I thought it would be a little easier". Even when "junior" roles were advertised, they often demanded two or more year

Cua (YC X25) is hiring design engineers in SF

Overview Cua is building the infrastructure that enables general-purpose AI agents to safely and scalably use real computers and applications. We’re a small team backed by Y Combinator and top-tier investors, and our open-source tools are already used by thousands of developers. As a Founding Engineer, UX & Design, you’ll own how developers experience Cua - shaping everything from product flows and dashboards to the open-source contributions developers see every day. We’re looking for someone

Cua (YC X25) Is Hiring Founding Design Engineers in SF

Overview Cua is building the infrastructure that enables general-purpose AI agents to safely and scalably use real computers and applications. We’re a small team backed by Y Combinator and top-tier investors, and our open-source tools are already used by thousands of developers. As a Founding Engineer, UX & Design, you’ll own how developers experience Cua - shaping everything from product flows and dashboards to the open-source contributions developers see every day. We’re looking for someone

2025 is turning into a good year for long-awaited games

It actually happened: Silksong, the standalone sequel to Hollow Knight, has a release date. After seven years in development, and almost as many shrouded in silence, the game is coming out on September 4th. It’s welcome news for the millions of Hollow Knight fans who have been impatiently waiting. But it’s also part of a welcome trend: 2025 is shaping up to be the year that several long in-development games finally see the light of day. While both Routine and Metroid Prime 4 seem to have suffer

AI is creeping into the Linux kernel - and official policy is needed ASAP

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways Linux kernel developers are already using AI. AI helps Linux programmers, but they're careful how they use it. Linux kernel maintainers must decide key AI policy issues. Get more in-depth ZDNET: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has suggested as much as 30% of the company's code is now written by AI. While Microsoft may love AI code-writing tools, open-source and Linux develope

Show HN: What country you would hit if you went straight where you're pointing

Find out where you would end up if you kept going straight Historical map data from André Ourednik's Historical Basemaps project App Privacy The developer, Ben Gross, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy. Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app. Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Meta to add 100MW of solar power from US gear

Meta signed a deal yesterday with solar developer Silicon Ranch to develop a $100 million, 100-megawatt solar farm in South Carolina. The new renewable installation will power Meta’s planned AI data center in the state, which is expected to cost $800 million. Both the data center and the solar plant are expected to begin operations in 2027. Most of the equipment for the solar farm will be made in the U.S., according to the companies. The new deal is the 18th such agreement signed between Meta

Meta to add 100 MW of solar power from U.S. gear

Meta signed a deal yesterday with solar developer Silicon Range to develop a $100 million, 100-megawatt solar farm in South Carolina. The new renewable installation will power Meta’s planned AI data center in the state which is expected to cost $800 million. Both the data center and the solar plant are expected to begin operations in 2027. Most of the equipment for the solar farm will be made in the U.S., according to the companies. The new deal is the eighteenth such agreement signed between